Communications Teams

Communications teams play a critical role in shaping how support to independent media and information integrity is understood, perceived, and sustained. Decisions taken at this level—on visibility, messaging, branding, and public positioning—directly influence both the effectiveness of programmes and the safety and independence of media actors.

This function sits at the intersection of public diplomacy, accountability, and risk management. Communications choices can strengthen public trust, build political support, and demonstrate impact—but if poorly calibrated, they can expose partners to harm, distort local media dynamics, or undermine credibility. Consultations consistently highlighted the need to balance visibility with context sensitivity, particularly in fragile or authoritarian environments.

This section provides practical guidance to help communications teams align their work with the OECD DAC Principles on Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment—ensuring that communication strategies reinforce, rather than compromise, media independence and information integrity.

How to use this section

Depending on your needs, you can navigate directly to:

Start here: Quick checklist A rapid “stress test” to assess whether communication approaches are safe, context-appropriate, and aligned with programme objectives.

Key considerations for communications Common challenges, trade-offs, and what effective communication looks like in sensitive and complex media environments.

Detailed guidance by principle Actionable recommendations aligned with the six OECD Principles.

Tip If you are new to media and information integrity, start with the narrative section. If you are planning visibility or communications activities, begin with the checklist.